Dad’s Old Writing Desk
Typing words on my brother’s laptop
Sitting at my dad’s old writing desk
Here I am surrounded
By a magical sea of real friends
Who are smiling at my memories
Floating on moonlit walls
Glowing above the paintings
Created by my dream-time girl
Before she departed
This mystifying world
Ivor Steven (c) December 2021
Feeling very privileged and happy today. Last night, as a invited guest, I attended the special pre-show celebratory gathering and performance of Tell Me Why – Archie Roach, concert.
ABOUT THE SHOW:
A new work sharing stories and songs from Archie Roach’s award-winning memoir and companion album, Tell Me Why is an intimate, moving and often confronting account of his resilience, strength of spirit as well as a great love story. It’s an extraordinary odyssey of love, heartbreak, family, community, survival and renewal, showcasing the healing power of music.
Not many have lived as many lives as Archie, from stolen child, teenage alcoholic, seeker, lover, father, musical and lyrical genius, to social advocate and First Nations leader – but it took almost a lifetime to find who he really was. He is Archie Roach.
In the “Tell Me Why” show, Archie Roach voiced joy, pain, and hope within the songs that he had found on his journey to becoming the legendary singer, songwriter and storyteller that he is today; and below is my Haiku that I wrote straight after the concert …
Why (a Haiku)
The stolen children
Tell me why did they do that?
Does the river know?
Below; I have attached two of Archie Roach’s music/videos, and you can find more of his powerful lyrics and music on YouTube ...
Ivor Steven (c) December 2021
Time rambles along
Memories become words
Rummaging resumes
Ivor Steven (c) December 2021
Featured Image Above: has been cropped from the photo below, which was taken by Derrick Knight, and again I sincerely thank Derrick for allowing me to reproduce his photos here, in conjunction with my poems. You may visit his fabulous site by clicking on this link
>> https://derrickjknight.com/
A Sunday Dream
did you hear the stars sing last night?
no
neither did I
did you see the sun cry at dawn?
no
neither did I
did you hear the bells ring this morning?
no
neither did I
did you feel the earth sigh today?
no
neither did I
there is you, I, and why
why cannot they see the sky?
why do they always lie?
why do they not cry?
Ivor Steven (c) December 2021
This afternoon I was having one of my recovery sleeps after my elbow surgery, when I was suddenly woken by a violent summer storm, and in flash I wrote these words… and without a second thought of what I was writing or thinking, and without being bashful, here is my 5 minute poem
Arm Less
I’m arm less against the storms
Thoughtless in their violence
Voiceless is their silence
Boneless flesh that flood
Endless wars with blood
Ivor Steven © December 2021
Hello dear readers and followers, as you may know, I now write for “Coffee House Writers” magazine on a fortnightly basis, and my poem “Loose Pebbles”, is in this week’s edition of Coffee House Writers Magazine. … please click on the link below to read my poem at Coffee House Writers …
>>https://coffeehousewriters.com/loose-pebbles/
Ivor Steven (c) November 2021
sometimes my mind feels as big as the ocean
other times my mind is a grain of sand on the beach
sometimes I wonder how vast is this universe
other times, I am only a speck of dust dispersed
sometimes I feel my star is reaching out for me
others times I am a fish swimming alone in the sea
sometimes I hear the humming of birds and bees
other times I am deaf to the hallowed sounds of dying trees
Sometimes I see the dark side of the moon after midnight
other times I am blind to the world’s unnatural blights
sometimes I am asleep, and all I ever do is have silly dreams
other times I am awake, and only care about strawberries and cream
Ivor Steven (c) November 2021
Hello dear readers and followers … amazingly, I have managed to produce my “Twenty Fifth Tullawalla” Poetry Booklet….. For new readers that don’t know about these booklets, they are basically the reason why I write poetry. I produce these ‘home-printed’ booklets for the sole purpose of raising funds for my favourite charity organisation, the MS Society, in Australia via the MS Charity Shop here in Geelong. And actually all money’s I receive for any of my poetry .via, submissions, I donate to the MS Society…. I’m proud to announce, that the sale of my “Tullawalla Booklets”, have now gone pass $1500.00, … to all the lovely readers, who have donated, to help achieve such a wonderful amount, a big heartfelt thank you, from “us” and the MS Society … …..Incredibly, there is now a total of “1062 poems”, Yep over “A Thousand Poems” in my collection/series of “25” Tullawalla Booklets. After 2 months, this booklet is finally completed, and ready for sale now !! As always, they are available for purchase, either as a hard copy ‘Booklet’, or a PDF format….. All proceeds go to the MS Charity Shop, here in Geelong West….. Please contact me here through my website page and I can chat about arrangements from there…. Oh, the booklet is called “Tullawalla, Linger Songs”… And here is the link to my website >> https://ivors20.wordpress.com
Lingering Songs
sometimes I wished
for love to linger longer
other times I wished
my soul was stronger
old love lingers on
within lullaby songs
is my heart right or wrong?
sometimes when the music plays on and on
I hear my angel humming along
Ivor Steven (c) November 1st 2021
My “Moon” poems have been shining for 10 days now, and today “Pink Moon” is the final poem in my series of “Moon Poems”, which coincides with Holloween tonight …And this piece I wrote in April this year..
Beyond the shimmering sand
And a comforting hand
A gracious spirit is in command
Wandering along life’s deviations
Are not treasonous reactions
A change of mindset to the left of centre
May create a mystical adventure
Tonight there shines a super-moon
Bring a bowl, cream, and spoon
And share in the sweetness of pink moonbeams
That revive lost souls and sanction forgotten dreams
Ivor Steven (c) October 2021
Hi readers and followers, today I am re-posting another “Moon”poem, but here in this introspective piece (March 2021), the moon seems to be slipping away from me …
A Slithery Moon
Sunday softy sings
Undone on the wind
For a drowning underling
Tiredness creeps in
Church bells ring
For more silent writings
Numbness drops a teaspoon
Eyes close for the afternoon
Awaiting a slithery moon
Ivor Steven (c) October 2021
Ivor.Plumber/Poet 